Page 56 of The Artisan and the Duke
“Perhaps or a workhouse,” Barrister Dulock said, and the man pursed out his lips. “I don’t know if I would call it wonderful news, but if she is in one of those places, and I can find no record of her arrest, then it is likely she was never actually charged with anything. She’s simply been for lack of a better word, kidnapped.”
There was a long pause before Fredrick said, “I am glad that she has not been charged, but there are quite a few workhouses. It may take some time to find her, especially if someone does not want us to.”
“This is true, and thus the bad news in the good news,” Barrister Dulock said solemnly. “I do hope that you do not regret giving me your brandy now that you have heard my news.”
Fredrick shook his head and assured the man, “Of course not. Your hard work is worth a tumbler or two of brandy. Would you wish to stay for the evening meal?”
“I cannot,” Barrister Dulock said regrettably. “I am needed elsewhere, but I will continue to do all I can to find the Duchess. She has a charitable heart, and this world could do with a few more like that.”
***
Gregory and the constable sat down with the men, and they went over their stories. The men who had hired them had smartly never spoken their names in front of the two, but from their descriptions, Gregory would have wagered that one of the men had been Mr Larkin, the other could have been any number of people.
“We’ve told you all that we can,” the spokesman said. “We can’t tell you something that we don’t know.”
Gregory frowned in dissatisfaction. “I agreed to help if you could give us names,” Gregory reminded the men.
“We don’t have that to give, but we told you all we know of them,” the spokesman said.
The man’s friend spoke up, “We’d recognize them if we saw them. We would gladly testify before any court about the events.”
The constable looked at Gregory who sighed and nodded. It was not what he wanted, but the men were trying their best. He tried not to feel too disappointed.
“I tell you what, if I do ever see that old blowhard again, it’ll be too soon for my liking,” the spokesman said. “He promised to give us twice as much money as he paid,” the man spat. “He said he would give us twice as much again once he had his inheritance.”
Gregory stilled. “This man, did he favour me at all?”
“Mayhap, but he’s much older than you, Your Grace,” the spokesman said.
The constable asked, “Is there something to that?”
“I think they might have just told me who the one man is,” Gregory said. “Send them on to the jail, and I’ll have a barrister around to see them.”
The spokesman thanked Gregory profusely, “You are too kind, Your Grace. Thank you for having mercy for us.”
“Just be glad that I have less mercy for the men who hired you,” Gregory said as he rose and gave the constable a nod of thanks for his help.
***
Back at the manor, Lady St Claire was beside herself. “I got an invitation to go to her summer’s end gala, but I know very well she just wants to be able to question me,” Lady St Claire fumed to Fredrick.
Fredrick nodded and agreed, “Lady Hastings always was a bit of a gossip nanny.”
“The woman would sell her own children for a juicy bit of a sordid tale that she could introduce to society’s ears,” Lady St Claire said with distaste.
The booming footsteps heralded Gregory’s arrival. The man’s face made Lady St Claire gasp and ask, “What is wrong?”
“I believe the men that kidnapped Fredrick just confirmed that Uncle Lawrence was one of the men who hired them,” Gregory said. His face was livid. “Now, I cannot find out where he is. I tried Glenwood Estate where he often stays with one of his ladies, but they have not seen him in weeks.”
Lady St Claire put her hand over her heart. “Oh my dear,” she said. “What if he has Julia?”
“Then I will personally disembowel him,” Gregory said without any sign of humour.
Fredrick said, “You might want to hear what Barrister Dulock said then.”
The two of them retired to the study as Lady St Clare retired for the night. Once in the study, Gregory pushed, “So, tell me what he said.”
Fredrick explained, “He said that as far as he could tell, the Duchess had not been charged with anything as of yet. He also discovered via the guards that they have no record of her ever arriving at the prison. He thinks it is likely a glitch or that someone is hiding her within the system so that she’s harder to find.”
